Head of Strategy & Commercial

Role and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will work closely with the Country Manager and Deputy General Manager responsible for Strategy and Commercial, playing a key role in managing the organization's commercial interests in a joint venture. This includes involvement at all levels-from operational meetings to senior management and board representation.

The role also includes serving as the organization's nominated Alternate Director in the joint venture, participating in board meetings, steering committees, and shareholder discussions. The ideal candidate should be comfortable engaging in both hands-on commercial work and high-level strategic discussions.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing timely, high-quality strategic and commercial advice to internal leadership and board representatives.
• Leading the Strategy & Commercial department, managing a team of three professionals including a General Counsel, and ensuring operational efficiency and alignment with organizational goals.
• Building collaborative relationships with joint venture partners and stakeholders to maximize value across the value chain.
• Influencing and negotiating with joint venture partners to ensure the organization's priorities are reflected in strategic plans.
• Offering commercial leadership across areas such as government relations, business development, gas marketing, joint venture assets, and legal matters.
• Coordinating cross-functional collaboration (technical, finance, legal, commercial) to evaluate opportunities and deliver strategic recommendations.
• Conducting economic analysis and clearly communicating value drivers.
• Monitoring and analyzing gas and LNG marketing activities.
• Leading internal approval processes for board decisions and providing independent analysis to support leadership.
• Preparing presentations and briefing materials for board and committee meetings.
• Leading negotiations and execution of major commercial agreements across upstream and downstream operations.
• Aligning stakeholders on key principles and providing governance on commercial agreements.
• Reviewing and assessing commercial strategies and negotiations.
• Evaluating long-term gas supply strategies and advising on optimal positioning.
• Liaising with headquarters and preparing internal commercial reports.
• Mentoring junior team members and fostering innovative, value-driven solutions.

Required and Preferred Skills/Competencies

• Over 15 years of experience in the energy sector, with a strong focus on commercial and strategic leadership.
• A degree in Commerce, Engineering, or a related field, with demonstrated expertise in joint ventures and commercial strategy.
• Experience in strategic planning, long-term business development, government relations, and commercial negotiations (e.g., joint ventures, gas marketing, processing, sales & purchase agreements).
• Familiarity with joint venture governance structures and committee operations.
• Proven ability to influence outcomes as a non-operating joint venture partner.
• Strong leadership skills, including the ability to set agendas and lead effective meetings.
• Deep understanding of energy operations, contracts, and commercial arrangements, including compliance with competition law and regulatory frameworks.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and influencing skills.
• Commitment to team development, staff support, and integrated value creation.
• Broad business insight across strategic, external, and commercial domains.
• Strong personal commitment to health, safety, and environmental standards.
• Willingness to work in a multicultural environment and promote inclusivity.
• Professional certification (e.g., MAICD or GAICD) is preferred.